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WHEREAS, the Congress of Neighboring Communities (CONNECT) is an organization that promotes cooperation and collaboration between the City of Pittsburgh and the thirty-six neighboring municipalities that comprise the region's urban core; and
WHEREAS, CONNECT began as an initiative of the Center for Metropolitan Studies through the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh in October 2008; and
WHEREAS, the mission of CONNECT is to coordinate the activities of the City of Pittsburgh with the neighboring municipalities by advocating for the collective interests of the urban core, developing ways that the municipalities work together to deliver important public services, and maintaining a forum to maximize economic prosperity for the region; and
WHEREAS, CONNECT communities work together to address initiatives that benefit civic and community partners including Three Rivers Wet Weather, Local Government Academy, Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group, 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania, GTECH Strategies, and many others; and
WHEREAS, CONNECT's 5th Annual Legislative Session will be held on November 21, 2013 to discuss resolutions that will address a variety of policy challenges including sewer regionalization, land banking, energy efficiency, and other forms of intergovernmental cooperation.
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize CONNECT for its unwavering commitment for improving inter-municipal cooperation and creating a better life for the citizens of our region; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare November 21, 2013 "CONNECT Day" in the City of Pittsburgh.